What if your childhood wasn’t spent in a neighborhood, but in the wild - with horses, tents, and the Masai Mara as your backyard?
How does a horseback safari work exactly? What’s it like to ride through the bush on horseback - coming face to face with elephants and giraffes? Is it really safe to ride a horse — a prey animal — through lion territory?
What does it take to guide guests on horseback through one of the last truly wild places on Earth?
And in a world that’s always online and always in a rush, what kind of transformation is possible when you unplug, saddle up, and step into the heartbeat of nature?
We find out in this episode, where I traveled to the Masai Mara in Kenya to meet Gordie Church. He is a true legend of the African bush and one of the world’s leading guides for mobile horseback and wildlife safaris. Gordie was born and raised in Kenya. He grew up under canvas, in the saddle, and surrounded by wildlife. For over 35 years, he’s led riders through some of the most remote and breathtaking landscapes in East Africa. His family’s roots in Kenya go back to the 1930s, when his grandfather arrived from England as a missionary. But it was his father, Tony Church, who really changed the game — introducing the concept of horseback safaris in the 1970s. Today, Gordie carries on that legacy through Safaris Unlimited, a family-run safari company he leads with his wife, Felicia, and their two kids, Tyga and Thego. The Church family has a saying 'a safari begins with a dream and ends with an extraordinary story' — and Gordie has more than a few to share.
Sit back, relax and let’s travel together to the breathtakingplains of the Masai Mara. Some sneak peeks of the episode:
“My grandmother sailed from England to Kenya in the 1930s. She didn’t speak Swahili and had never seen a lion. That’s courage.”
“I cracked a whip to impress my newly-wedded wife and ended up being chased by an elephant. It was a horse that saved my life.”
“My father had 100% belief that horseback safaris in Kenya can’t go wrong and fifty years later, we’re still riding.”
“Africa gets under your skin. The French call it mal d’Afrique, once you’ve come, you’re forever addicted.”
“Our horses can look a lion in the eye, assess the situation, and go back to grazing. That’s how well-trained they are.”
Make sure to subscribe to this channel, so you never miss an adventure and share it with your fellow adventurers. If you are dreaming of a horseback adventure of your own, check out our Instagram page @outsidethecorral or visit our website www.outsidethecorral.com.
If you would like to know more about Gordie and Safaris Unlimited, check their website www.safarisunlimited.com. If you would like to read more about Gordie’s father, Tony Church (founder of Safaris Unlimited), you can find his memoirs in this book.
#RidingHolidays #HorsebackSafari #Safari #Horses #EquestrianTourism #SoloTravel